Did this publisher just withdraw James Patterson's 1991 non-fiction research book "The Day America Told The Truth"?

[anobserver2]

Last edited Fri Feb 9, 2024, 05:37 PM - Edit history (2)

This is an update to this matter. Here is an email I just sent to this publisher today, 2/9/24:

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: anobserver2
Date: Fri, Feb 9, 2024 at 4:24 PM
Subject: (P.), I had hoped to hear from you again
To: (P.) Corporate Legal Department - Integrity & Compliance
________________________________________________________
Bertelsmann, Inc



Hi (P.),

I really hoped to hear from you again, as it still seems quite obvious to me this book does not meet your standards as a "research" book - and
therefore, should be publicly withdrawn by your company. And, refunds offered to the schools, libraries and consumers who bought it.

I remain disappointed that your company did not offer refunds -- or issue a public statement (on) your findings about this alleged "research" book (following your editorial review).

I realize the author, James Patterson, is quite famous -- and would likely not appreciate it if any publisher called him or his "research" work a piece of fraud.

But, it seems to me if that's what his work actually is, and if that's what he is -- and if a publisher knows it, the publisher should say it.

With kind regards to you, despite my disappointment,
anobserver2





----------------------------------------------------
And here below is my original post, this time, with the name, email and phone of the individual who wrote back to me deleted from this thread. Maybe I should have kept that info posted, but, I no longer have hope they will do what I consider to be the right thing, as I expressed to them today, in my email above.
--------------------------------------------

Here are three emails I recently received from this publisher, as I wrote to them explaining why I thought this book is bogus and should be withdrawn:

On Thu, Jan 18, 2024 at 4:12 PM Corporate Legal Department - Integrity & Compliance
________________________________________________________
Bertelsmann, Inc wrote:

Dear anobserver 2,

We did look into this. The book does not show up in our computerized system, likely because it is from 30+ years ago. Plume/PRH are not publishing, printing or selling this title anymore, and we have no plans to do so in the future.

Thank you for your diligence.

Sincerely,
(P.) Corporate Legal Department - Integrity & Compliance
________________________________________________________
Bertelsmann, Inc
-----------------------------------------------

2nd message from publisher:

`From: (P.)
Date: Wed, Jan 10, 2024 at 6:23 PM
Subject: RE: To P.
To: an observer 2


Dear an observer 2

We are mystified why your emails did not reach our ombudsperson, as all test-emails made it through. They were not in the “spam” either, so we are not sure what happened here. We apologize for the lack of response.

We are reviewing your messages and will discuss with our publishing division.

Best regards,
(P.) Corporate Legal Department - Integrity & Compliance
________________________________________________________
Bertelsmann, Inc
-----------------------------------------------
1st email from publisher:

On Tue, Jan 9, 2024 at 11:59 AM Corporate Legal Department - Integrity & Compliance
________________________________________________________
Bertelsmann, Inc wrote:

Dear anobserver2

thank you for your message. We have no record of any earlier communications from you via our speak-up system or [e-mail] email address. If you let us know which channel you used, then we can look into it.

We will review the rest of the message and will get back to you.

Best regards,
(P.) Corporate Legal Department - Integrity & Compliance
________________________________________________________
Bertelsmann, Inc

Corporate Legal Department - Integrity & Compliance
_______________________________________________________
Bertelsmann, Inc. | 1745 Broadway | New York, NY 10019
(Phone and email for P.)

[anobserver2]

1. I will post my reply to her Jan 18th email

I feel like this publisher did make a decision to withdraw this book due to my emails - but they don't want to publicly announce their decision -- and they certainly do not want to issue refunds.

But they have a big website up about their integrity. And I had high hopes they would do the right thing in this matter.

I wrote back and asked them to consider refunds. I will show you my email reply to them.

[anobserver2]

4. I will have to post it later

My computer is too slow tonight.

I am hoping a journalist sees this thread and asks that publisher the questions I emailed (and will post here).

In my opinion, James Patterson has done one scam after another against the public -- but finding a media news outlet that will report his scams is no easy task.

[anobserver2]

19. Here is how I wish this publisher would have responded

I posted this at the end of the thread, but I wanted it up here at the top.
-----------------
I almost deleted this thread last night, but I will just summarize my response to this publisher - and what I wish this publisher had written to me in reply. I was hoping they would have said something like this:
----------------------------------------------
1) Yes, we received your email pursuant to our website instructions to contact us if you have a concern because we are a publisher of integrity and we do not do illegal things.

2) Yes, we reviewed this book of concern to you, as you explained to us why you think this is a bogus research book and people were scammed who bought it.

3) Yes, we agree with you - this is not actually a book of research. It is a figment of someone's imagination.

4) Therefore we are offering a refund to all those who purchased this book, whether a consumer, school or library.

5) And we have removed this book from our computers so that this fraud never happens again.
---------------------------------------
That is something along the lines of what I was hoping for in response, but I guess I was hoping for too much.,

That would be the response of a publisher of integrity, in my opinion.

But instead, after reading the replies on this thread and thinking more about this matter, I feel like this publisher has said to me:

1) Look, the book is 30+ years old, so
2) We are not going to bother reviewing it, even if it is a piece of fraud,
3) The author makes $80 million per year, so if he wants to publish fraud and pretend it's research
ad scam people, well then -
4) Too bad on the people who bought this book, continue to buy this book, and get duped.
We did however remove the book from our computers.

To me, their response evades the real reason I wrote to them in the first place.

I will leave up this thread.

Should the publisher rethink their response and change their mind - and offer people refunds - I will let you know.

But I doubt any refunds are forthcoming.

[anobserver2]

20. This is the book

https://www.amazon.com/Day-America-Told-Truth/dp/0452268087/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.aMqSVL6JF7WXcznb_eVChzKC1pmxJK5j6WN5Iiko4zwmdpFRK-Mvb6NamWRLupRWjeH0I_C1GIrqr-glrrjBBLVd9In4wBRAOFwj8v_jH0WluT9XMVVj0sJOzp7prpq9tCCG7c69ekduRrFHk_KwftCvop6J1Bk7s7zKLm6gO7IxyGAmT2QNVdijoN9eaSXoTHr2NPOQ_w0AUGcWyDnopaGx_inPIYJKOcHJhBP6NgM.fO7Ev0XPK7cfESLPpWySkck-x7MaMUo5iGrsDmz-tM0&qid=1705674824&sr=8-1

[TwilightZone]

2. If books don't sell, they don't get reprints.

It could have gone out of print shortly after publication if it didn't find an audience. If it's not in their system, that would seem to indicate that it's been a long time since it's been in print.

I think it's unlikely it was because of your one recent e-mail. I see no evidence of that in her reply.

[anobserver2]

6. I sent a lot of info as to why I believe the book is bogus research

Believe me, it was not just "one" email I sent.

[anobserver2]

9. Other books are withdrawn

An interesting article about other books impacted by scandal:

[link:https://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2016/08/03/from-james-frey-to-jonah-lehrer-how-scandal-impacts-book-sales/
|https://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2016/08/03/from-james-frey-to-jonah-lehrer-how-scandal-impacts-book-sales/

"From James Frey To Jonah Lehrer, How Scandal Impacts Book Sales"

WHEN A BOOK'S ostensible facts are shown to be false, the revelation can damage an author's reputation--and his sales....

[anobserver2]

14. It found an audience

- it was a NYT Best Seller.

[TwilightZone]

3. A quick search of Amazon and online bookstores show a most-recent edition date of 1992.

My search was admittedly quick, but if that's the most-recent printing, that would mean it's been out of print for 32 years. If you're expecting the publisher to refund 32-year-old purchases, you are almost certainly going to be disappointed.

[anobserver2]

8. I am disappointed that bogus research can get published in the first place

And then become a NYT Best Seller, and then get the author James Patterson on the "Oprah" show. And then the book is false, which I believe it to be.

[anobserver2]

5. If the book is a bogus research book - it should be withdrawn

The book was purchased by schools and libraries in addition to consumers.

It is still available for sale everywhere - Amazon, online sellers, etc.

If the research is bogus, it should be withdrawn.

[TwilightZone]

7. Good luck with that.

It's been out of print for 32 years. A publisher is not going to withdraw a book from dusty old second-hand bookstores because one person says it's bogus.

[anobserver2]

10. You can buy it online right now

You don't need to go to a dusty old bookshop.

And there are many great books a lot older than 32 years old that are still in print.

[TwilightZone]

11. There are 70 listings on Amazon.

Every, single one of them is a thrift store like Goodwill or a second-hand book store, which is not a surprise, because they're 30-year-old books.

Just because it's on Amazon doesn't mean that Amazon is stocking or selling it. Look at the actual listings. Then, look at the publication dates. There isn't a single one later than 1992.

If you think the publisher is shipping out new copies to put on the shelves of Barnes and Noble or to be sold by Amazon, that's clearly not happening.

[anobserver2]

15. It's in my library right now

How many new copies are being shipped is not my concern.

The book is on the shelf of libraries and schools.

I think if the book is a bogus research book, the publisher should publicly disclose that fact -- and offer refunds to schools, libraries, and consumers who bought the book and want a refund.

[anobserver2]

16. I really appreciate your replies here

But in my view, it is one scam after another after another with this guy. Then people say, "Gee, how does he make $80 million dollars a year?" Well, part of it is that no one ever looks critically at any of his scams, so one scam after another after another is what I see from him.

[anobserver2]

17. Again, I am glad you responded.

I think I might just delete this thread. What does it matter, right? If books are still in school that say the world is flat, who cares. There's no new printing of those books. I don't mean to sound rude, by the way. Maybe there is something wrong with me, expecting some level of standards and respect for the printed word.

I read on Good Reads a guy from another country posted not long ago that he had translated this book into another language for his country.

But, so what.

One wishes that at the moment this book came out,, others would have taken a more critical look at that book and objected. But no one did.

I should just delete this thread and forget it is what I am thinking now.

What does it matter how much money an unscrupulous author steals from the public? He's laughing all the way to the bank each and every time he runs another scam.

But I don't find it funny. I wish I did.

[anobserver2]

12. Book's current rankings on Amazon Product Details

https://www.amazon.com/Day-America-Told-Truth-Everything/dp/0134634802/ref=sr_1_1?crid=NM19T3DK6O1B&keywords=The+Day+America+Told+The+Truth&qid=1705637694&s=books&sprefix=the+day+america+told+the+t%2Cstripbooks%2C202&sr=1-1

Product details
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Prentice Hall Direct; First Edition (January 1, 1991)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 270 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0134634802
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0134634807
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.25 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 1 x 6.5 x 9.5 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #643,164 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
#7,930 in Social Sciences (Books)
#25,826 in Politics & Government (Books)
#33,753 in Unknown

[anobserver2]

13. My impression is that it has never been out of print

I don't know why you think the book has ever been out of print.

[anobserver2]

18. Here is what I wish this publisher would have said in reply to me

I almost deleted this thread last night, but I will just summarize my response to this publisher - and what I wish this publisher had written to me in reply. I was hoping they would have said something like this:
----------------------------------------------
1) Yes, we received your email pursuant to our website instructions to contact us if you have a concern because we are a publisher of integrity and we do not do illegal things.

2) Yes, we reviewed this book of concern to you, as you explained to us why you think this is a bogus research book and people were scammed who bought it.

3) Yes, we agree with you - this is not actually a book of research. It is a figment of someone's imagination.

4) Therefore we are offering a refund to all those who purchased this book, whether a consumer, school or library.

5) And we have removed this book from our computers so that this fraud never happens again.
---------------------------------------
That is something along the lines of what I was hoping for in response, but I guess I was hoping for too much.,

That would be the response of a publisher of integrity, in my opinion.

But instead, after reading the replies on this thread and thinking more about this matter, I feel like this publisher has said to me:

1) Look, the book is 30+ years old, so --
2) We are not going to bother reviewing it, even if it is a piece of fraud,
3) The author makes $80 million per year, so if he wants to publish fraud and pretend it's research
ad scam people, well then --
4) Too bad on the people who bought this book, continue to buy this book, and get duped.
We did however remove the book from our computers.

To me, their response evades the real reason I wrote to them in the first place.

I will leave up this thread.

Should the publisher rethink their response and change their mind - and offer people refunds - I will let you know.

But I doubt any refunds are forthcoming.